Alice Faris grew up in a small community in Northern California that proudly boasts of having more cows than people. She raised Guide Dogs for the Blind, is dyslexic, and can shoot a gun and miraculously never hit the target (which at some point becomes a statistical improbability). Alice also publishes science fiction and fantasy under the pen name Tina Gower, has won the Writers of the Future, and the Daphne du Maurier Award for Mystery/Suspense (paranormal category). Alice is represented by Rebecca Strauss at DeFiore and Company.

Here’s a blurb for GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO TALKING DIRTY:

When budget cuts slash her school psychologist job, relationship-shy East Winters lands an interview across country for her dream job. She breaks all her strict rules and works as a phone sex operator to finance the trip. Worse, she hitches a cross-country ride with a hunky, emotionally unavailable truck driver. Soon she’s counseling him for his intense anxiety issues from surviving a school shooting. Close quarters ignite an attraction that forces her to decide which is more important, her job or her heart.

Wow! Fabulous title and great premise!! I do love a good close-quarters, slow-melt story, especially when both hero and heroine need to let down their guards….yum!!

Okay, everybody—let’s all grab a 7-Eleven Big Gulp and climb into a (virtual) truck cab with Alice to learn more about her book and her amazingly inspiring writing life.

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Welcome to the Ruby blog, Alice! You write Sci-Fi AND light-hearted Contemporary Romance? Interesting combination. How did your Golden Heart book come to be?

I’d just finished a science fiction book with elements of romance and it was pretty gritty and heavy. I had this idea for a really funny humor story, but I really fought it for a while since it’s hard to write in two genres and I was trying to stick with one to “break out.” I would write scenes here and there between other projects. I sell SF/F short stories, which is how I afford to be an at-home-mom writer. After a while I couldn’t stand it anymore and I broke down and wrote the novel rough draft. It only took about two and a half months writing sometimes two or three thousand words a day, because I had to finish my other work before I could justify working on Good Girl’s Guide. And gosh darn it, more characters from the same world keep popping into my head, so I’ve already got some ideas on another contemporary humor book.

I thought I would self-publish it, but my agent talked me out of it. “This is really good. I can sell this,” is what she said. Then I entered it into the Golden Heart because I loved it too.

And you snagged a Golden Heart nomination!! Good for you! When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

This is a tough one for me. I didn’t really accept that I could write for a very long time. I loved story and plot. I loved sitting for hours on end outwardly staring at nothing, but inwardly creating an entire world in my head. I was pretty much a space cadet growing up—mostly dreaming of what was going on beyond the stars, so I was naturally drawn to science fiction and fantasy. Reading was difficult, but if the story was engaging I’d battle it out to find out what happened. It was probably my intense thirst for a good story that saved me (writers have the power to help children overcome dyslexia, yo!).

I won’t lie, I was an honors student, but it was a strange thing to be talking remedial classes and honors classes at the same time, especially in college. Meanwhile I’d jot down story notes, I’d sketch pictures of characters or scenes from my head, I’d write scenes when I’d get bored with homework. I had a lot of little stapled-together books that I’d proudly display. Most of the time people wouldn’t comment on the great ideas, but on the horrible spelling, handwriting, or grammar. Worse, I’d have people laugh and make fun of the mistakes and how funny the sentences sounded. So I learned to hide it and just keep it for myself. If it was something only I could understand, I didn’t want to burden others with it. Remedial college English classes were awesome, because I think it was the first time I’d been taught the actual rules for grammar in a way that made sense to me. Or maybe my brain was finally ready to absorb the information.

I probably would have never gone any further than to write up stories nobody else would ever see, except for one thing. After my son was born, I had a freak medical mystery/accident. I’d suffered severe nerve damage in my hips and was paralyzed. I always feel like I’ve tazered people when I lay out that life detail. Just know that I can walk now, and I did about two years of physical therapy. During that time I promised myself that I’d try to get one thing published. So I took writing classes from a local writer who took the individual time to go over sentence structure with me, along with word choice, emotion, all the basics. I wrote non-fiction humor pieces and one day I saw a call for Chicken Soup for the Soul and I happened to have a story that fit the theme. I sent it in and didn’t hear from them for nearly a year, but it sold. I now had $200 dollars from a thousand word story and ten free copies of the book. I was floored. I knew it couldn’t be that easy again (and it wasn’t, it took me years to sell another story), but I took it as a sign that it would be possible to be a writer. It was possible for someone like *me* to be a writer.

Best of all, there are more of us. There are a lot of dyslexic writers out there. I admire them for overcoming that huge barrier into this field.

Wow! And you’re right—there are lots of dyxlexic writers. In fact, you’re the SECOND Dragonfly guest this week who’s dyslexic. And you didn’t let a little thing like paralysis stop you either…you’re a powerhouse!! Your writing process must be interesting. What’s it like?

Since my writing process is likely really weird and different than what I see most people talk about, I’ll explain it. I don’t know if it’s because I’m dyslexic or what, but I don’t like to write in order. So I plot out a rough outline and write some scenes that are burning a hole in my brain. At that point I’ll write the first chapters. Then I flesh out the book even more. I like to know about how it will all end before I really go too far. When I get the first rough draft I start adding in more layers, because I’m terrible with setting, so that goes in after as well as some other plot details. The later revisions are usually adding in layers and cutting out the dead wood. I think of it as constantly remolding clay.

I write a lot–usually at least a thousand words or more a day on average. Being dyslexic, a lot of that gets thrown out. Editing (mostly clarifying what I wrote) is the hardest stage for me.

Any hot tips for other folks trying to write with dyslexia?

I was once a school psychologist and counselor. I taught life skills classes and had a special place in my heart for other kids who had reading/writing disorders like me. So I have lots of little strategies we teach students who struggle with learning disabilities.

One of them is writing in one font, then changing to a different font when you edit. I change from a fancy font that Scrivener gives me to Times New Roman and I catch a lot more mistakes this way. Aside from reading the manuscript out loud, this is a hint that I don’t see as often mentioned on writing sites.

And okay, yeah, my GH novel is about a school psychologist; I feel I need to walk around with a sign over my head that states my GH book is not about me. I was never a phone sex operator, nor did I hitch-hike across country with a hunky truck driver. I did experience a potential school-shooting scare (everyone was fine and they caught the culprit before any harm came to the students) and it did give me the idea to add the things I learned from that experience in a book someday.

The font change trick for editing sounds like a great addition to every writer’s editing arsenal! Thanks!! Any other general tips for writers?

Don’t give up. If something doesn’t work, try a new thing. If you’re the best in the room, find a new room. You won’t get better if you’re not always learning.

Spoken like a true counselor! I’m assuming you’re a big reader, too. What are some of your favorites?

When it comes to books, I’m a total whore. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indy stories, librarians…all my pimp daddies. I stick pretty close to the romance genre–especially all subgenres of speculative romance, historical romance, contemporary romance. Amish? Sure. Bikers? *holds up a shy hand* Seriously, did I just list them all?

My MUST BUY authors are Darynda Jones, Kristan Higgins, Nalini Singh, J.R. Ward, Suzanne Brockmann, Diana Gabaldon, Susan Andersen, Colleen Hoover, Jennifer Crusie—I’ve probably read everything they’ve ever written that was available and even searched down out-of-print stuff, too. But like all good romance readers, I’ve been known to dabble in a little Nora Roberts and other classics.

And I have a slight addiction to certain TV shows like: Outlander, Vikings, Big Bang Theory, Downton Abbey, and Game of Thrones. Although Game of Thrones is making me feel dead inside.

LOL on Game of Thrones. I haven’t seen the season finale yet. I’m scared. Speaking of things that scare people, are you going to Nationals? Have you ever been before?

Never been. Come find me and makes sure I don’t walk into the wrong bathrooms and be kind to me.

Everyone at Nationals is incredibly nice! Don’t worry. And—this is awesome—they convert almost all the bathrooms at the hotel over to Ladies, so you can pretty much go into any one you want. (For once, I pity the men.) Before we say goodbye, is there anything else you think we should know?

My blogging partner, Pam Stewart, and I were hoping to entice some of you like the pied piper to follow us over to www.smashedpicketfences.com where we’re talking today about yard sales, trash, and treasure—and how that perspective can help writers deal with conflicting critiques. We’re giving away first five pages critiques to two random lucky commenters!! You can see my credentials above (aside from finaling in the Golden Heart, I’ve won some contests and published several short stories in professional magazines). Pam just recently won the Silver Quill Fab Five contest (and she’s finaled/won others). So help us celebrate!

Cool! I’ll stop by. I love the name of the blog! Thanks so much for joining us today, Alice! Anything you’d like to ask our readers to get the conversation going today?

Since my book is about two characters stuck in a truck together on a cross-country ride…: If you could choose a writer or character from a book to hitchhike with, whom would it be? Choose wisely.

Mia, I went to a Toni Morrison interview years ago. It was in San Francisco. She was being interviewed by Dorothy Allison. The hall was packed and she was amazing. She has such beautiful voice, I could listen to her read a grocery list. Her stories, though, were brilliant. The woman didn’t win a Nobel Prize for nothing. 🙂

oh, Lord, Yes!!! She’s going down in history as one of the finest writers in the English language. Right up there with Faulkner and Woolf, both of whom she studied as a young woman. HARD but brilliant stuff. Beloved is her best.

If you haven’t read any of her work, Tina, I recommend that you begin with Sula. It’s the book that hooked me. Would love to know what you think if you get the chance to dig into one of her works. It’s an experience.

It IS a positive! One of the great things about being a Dragonfly is that I get to meet new writers across the world! I love meeting new friends, and friends of friends. And writer friends are the best. I’d been a member of my local chapter for a while before finaling and this year I’d decided to do the plunge-right-in thing and go to Nationals. I’d gone to a lot of Sci Fi writer conventions (but I read *so much more* romance). This will be like meeting my heros! I’m totally going into a completely new room!

Thank you for the font tip! I will use that often. There are so many authors and characters I’d love to take on a road trip, it’s hard to narrow down the list. If I took Charley Davidson, you know Reyes would show up. Twofer! I think I’d go with Jill Shalvis, though. She’s is a hard-working, dyslexic romance author who consistently writes funny, charming, emotionally resonant stories. I’d love to talk with her about writing, hot guys, and cookies. Actually, I’d rather just eat the cookies.

Alice, I have spent most of my life doing the same thing, daydreaming a million stories, writing and rewriting conversations in my head, all because I never thought I could get them down on a page. So, you know, yay us.

There are so many! I keep finding more. I read this really amazing post by Sherrilyn Kenyon about her road to publication and it was amazing what she had to go through. I saw echos of my own story in there. She’s another one of my heroes!

SEANA!! My fellow dyslexics in crime sister! We will take over the con together! I hope Jill Shavis is at Nationals, so we can admire her together. I remember learning about all the famous writers who’d been (or suspected to be) dyslexic and that is what truly opened my eyes to continuing to go forward writing. I’d only wanted to just get one thing published, but then hearing others did it and had a career, I knew I could do it too!

Hi Abby! Not nosy at all. They were never really positive about it, but my second physical therapist had a very educated guess. He thought maybe my SI joints (the ones in the back of the hip) came apart/stretched apart and that some nerves got caught inside. This was based on his intake assessment and the pattern of numb spots on my legs/feet (I had some feeling in some parts).

It happened probably during labor and I was told that it is a very rare side effect if the baby is too big (sorry if that is TMI). The neurologist on my case was on the phone with several other doctors around the country to see if they could get some answers. Thankfully, I started getting some feeling back in some spots after a few days. It takes a while for nerves to heal after trauma though.

I had a weird type of paralysis that I could bare weight on my legs (after a few days of heavy physical therapy) but could not pick them up and walk (that took more time). Apparently that meant two tributary nerves would at least be involved (It was a while ago, so I can’t remember if it was S1 and L5?? And since I’m dyslexic it could have been S5 and L1…It was the two that help with the signals to pick up and lower your feet).

Nice to “meet” you, Tina. What a wonderful and quite inspiring post. I, too, have a form of dyslexia. Mine is a reading comprehension deficiency. It is one reason I am a very slow reader and writer. But it is also a good thing, too. My brain picks out most mistakes like they are flashing neon lights.

Nice to “meet” you too! I love hearing about how dyslexia affect people differently. There are different forms of it and the reading comprehension one is frustrating because you can read ten pages and then think “Oh wait, what did I just read?” Lots of re-reading. But it’s good that you’ve found how it helps you, too. Hooray for dyslexia as a super power! I sometimes think mine helps me with certain things also.

It’s also interesting to see how dyslexia effects the other senses and other areas of life. Like I can’t seem to follow directions or find my way places. Once I’m there once though, I can usually find my way back (yay for good memories!).

Heather! I want to be your best friend now, too!! I’m so easy like that, show one ounce of affection and boom, I’m as loyal as a Labrador 🙂

I’ll be looking for you, too! I bookmarked your webpage and I’ll stalk you a bit too, so we’re even. I can’t wait to meet you and hear about your own physical trauma–It’s always nice to talk with someone who’s empathetic.

Alice! I can’t wait to meet you in person next month. Your story of how you came to be a writer is both amazing and inspiring. I’m so intrigued that you write science fiction and fantasy, too. As someone else mentioned, I love the quote, “If you’re the best in the room, find a new room.” What a great way to remind yourself to continue learning new things. If I had to travel with a character, it would probably be Jamie Fraser. Or Han Solo. . . No, maybe Reyes. Or Jericho Barrons. Agh! I can’t decide. Can I just have them all?

I hope there’s an extra seat in your truck because I’m totally coming in on your hitchhike ride. Jamie Fraser and Han Solo and Reyes *swoon* I don’t even need to read who else will be in there, I’m sticking my thumb out when you drive by.

Congrats, Alice! I love the title. I’m going to try your wonderful suggestion and change my font for my final pass through my manuscript this time. I miss a lot of my typos–mostly tiny missing words that are invisible to most readers like ‘of, it, on, etc.’ Maybe that will help me catch them.

Yay! Good luck with the fix. It seems to help me catch a lot more than reading the same font/type size over and over. Granted I don’t ever catch all my mistakes, but even if I only get five, then that’s five less for my agent or future editor to deal with 🙂

Alice, my Dragonfly sister! This story sounds fantastic, and a contemporary that’s funny? We must be sisters in our Jennifer Crusie fandom too. 🙂 I love laughing my way through a good romance.

I’d love to be stuck on an elevator with George RR Martin. Given Sunday’s GoT episode, a lot of people might like to meet him in a dark alley for entirely different reasons, but I’m coming to admire the way he turns inherently evil characters into sympathetic characters. It bothered me the way I started feeling for Jamie but when he saved Brienne, he’d undergone a dramatic change. That’s the kind of storytelling I’d like to do so to pick his brain for a few hours (over a few tankards of ale), I’d be a happy camper.

I’d say I can’t wait to meet you in NY, but I’m enjoying the daylights out of right now too! NY will just be the icing on the cake! 🙂

Caroline! We are so totally Crusie fans together. She is a comedic genus. Comedies are the best to read. I don’t think I’d ever get enough of them and the good ones are so rare.

Funny you’d want to be with GRRM. He usually attends WorldCon every year and I usually go. I have mutual friends with him and I was speaking with this friend (who is also friends with him) and he was like “Who’s this?” We got introduced and later that evening in the bar he stopped me before I was leaving for the night (that guy NEVER sleeps!) and told me I had to sing for the group (they were playing some game where everyone had to sing the opening credit song for their favorite sitcom). Jesus! What do you do when one of the masters of SFF tells you to sing/dance monkey dance. I’m the worst singer in the world, but I managed a few notes. I got to hang out a bit for a while with them. It was pretty cool. He’d never recognize me again, but it was fun while it lasted. He made a joke that if anyone asked him when the book would be finished that night, he’d kill a Stark. I…I don’t think he was joking.

At this point we need to book a cruise ship with all these awesome suggestions. I think I want to ride in everyone’s truck now. And I’m a huge fan of the Chesapeake Bay Series, too. Oh, Nora, she’s my favorite. No wait, Darynda is, no Jennifer, no Nalini, no JR….oh god–How do I choose!

Alice, I’m going to kidnap you for a week (or more) and have you inspire my dyslexic daughter. I’d so love for her to enjoy reading like you. With late diagnosis, we’re still trying to increase her reading fluency and overcome years of “I can’t” attitude. Happy for you in overcoming this challenge and not giving up!

Love that you mentioned changing fonts (any teachers reading this, please be willing to change the font for assignments and tests for dyslexic students!)

Kristan Higgans and Suz Brockmann- Yes! And I’ve been fortunate enough to meet them both. I like to think my series is like Suz’s Troubleshooters but I don’t think I’ve mastered characterization at her level. They are so memorable!

As for taking the trip, I’d pick my own Golden Heart finalist hero, Sergeant First Class Anthony Salvatore Vincenti. 1) because he looks like Joe Manganiello 2) because his Army Special Ops experience and training makes him capable of handling anything. I admit my overactive imagination has put him on Survivor tv show but I won’t write that story. Too much drama and not enough romance. 😉

And I would probably happily come along!! I’d love to give away some of my tricks I’ve learned over the years. I don’t envy your daughters struggle. I was diagnosed later in life (early college), so before that mostly people see an intelligent girl and think: she’s got the brains, she must just be a lazy writer (although I spent hours, hours I tell you, writing essays…meanwhile my counterparts just spit out a document and it would be “perfect” GARRRRR!! Not just that but most of the time what I’d write would look like gibberish. It’s hard to get past that stage when you don’t understand what other people see. I didn’t get what was wrong with what I was doing. I didn’t understand how they would read my words wrong.

It’s really hard. Hugs to you and your daughter!

That is so awesome that you’ve meet two people I consider major romance writing heros! Love their books!!

Hooray!! Anna is my Oreo savior, everyone. I was lamenting the other day about not finding any S’mores Oreos and she found them for me!! All hail the sugar queen. Also she’s teaching me all the GH ropes. So happy to have such awesome RWA Chapter Sisters!

I am just so honored to have been a finalist that I do not have a desire to win! I feel always like I’ve gotten away with something when I’m up for an award. I know it’s WEIRD, but true. And then this thing always happens when I get to know people, there are so many other amazing women in my category that I hope take away the prize! I’ll be so happy for any one of them and proud to lose against them.

And I’d totally ride in your car, but I have a feeling I’d be unwelcome since then we’d have to share Jamie. Oh man, my obsession sometimes feels wrong….but I can’t stop.

Love this interview Alice/Tina! I can’t wait to read this book. By the way, no worries about the bathrooms because half the time the men’s rooms are changed to women’s rooms because there are so many female romance writers wandering around and trying to get in and out of bathrooms.

A character in a book to travel with? Winnie the Pooh, maybe. He’s awfully cuddly. And upbeat. Sings nice songs. Probably not going to turn out to be an ax murderer. Might be expensive to keep fed–honey’s pricey these days–but I think his other amiable qualities make up for that.

Hey, Tina/Alice ~ Love your blog post! Love your book premise & characters, and can’t wait to read it when you’re published. You have a FABULOUS time in NY, and enjoy the Dragonfly energy with which you’ll FLY!

Awesome interview, Tina (err Alice)! Your book sounds like it will have some very funny moments and I look forward to reading it. And this quote: “If you’re the best in the room, find a new room.” Oh. My. Gosh. Yes!! So relatable to all facets of life and I will be using that with my kids. (I’ll totally give you credit.) Looking forward to hanging with you and the rest of the Dragonflies in NY.

Loved this post! So inspirational! It’s great to hear that you’ve overcome several obstacles to follow your dreams and make them a reality. You’re well on your way.
As for who I’d jump in a truck with to travel cross-country….UGH!!!! I came too late and Seana STOLE MY ANSWER! haha. I was thinking the EXACT same thing. If Charley Davidson was in the truck, Reyes Farrow wouldn’t be too far away. Then again, as I adore Darynda, I’d take the author as well. 🙂
Great post! Can’t wait to hang with you in NYC when Dragonflies Take Times Square. 🙂

If Charley was in the truck we’d all be clamoring to hop in as well. I mean it would be pointless to choose Reyes because he’d just pop out anytime Charley needed him. Seriously, we know how to stack this question in our favor 😉

I’m not dyslexic, but I also concluded I write best…when I write out of order. A friend of mine calls it “story quilting,” where you write scenes as they come to you and stitch them all together later. I’ve crafted 3 of my 5 manuscripts this way, including my GH final. Guess it’s working for us, so let’s keeping doing it!

My parents warned heartily against hitchhikers, but I’ll answer the question anyway! LOL. My answer would likely change from day to day, but I’m going with a character this time–namely Thorne from the Lunar Chronicles. OR maybe Ford Prefect of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Ooh, this is a hard question! 🙂